precious moments

It's been a year...

... since we purchased our first house and we are living here for over a year now. Never missed any mortgage payment nor bills. I never thought we will be able to handle all the finances especially the mortgage but we miraculously did.

     I hate house hunting. I think we were able to see more than 10 houses and I was getting so anxious to move out from Dad's house. It was ok when he was  alone but when he got remarried last February we felt as we need to move out. We remember spending a late evening in Tom and Geri's place because we knew that the newly wed will be home as we go home. Dad doesn't have a clue about the house hunting because we both know that he will try to talk to us about staying. We eventually told him when we signed the contract. Everything in his house is free. All we need to worry was our food. I felt as though we were so sheltered. I started to feel boring. There is nothing challenging there than cutting the grass with the kubota. There was nothing to worry. No mortgage or utilities to pay. That was why I insisted out. Ryan was hesitant, as all of us probably feel when we are trying to make a huge decision. I was slightly worried but it did not affect me. I've never been happier. Life could be tough living by ourselves but I see it as challenges.

     After getting the house, we argued here and there about the color of every rooms. We made some minor to major changes. Luckily Dad is here every week to help us around the house. In return we have to watch Gilbert while he is in Indiana. We ripped off the entire bathroom and changed it with new fixtures (on going). Changed some old doors. Ripped the gazebo for winter and store it in the garage. Winterized the hot tub. Hopefully as Dad feels better, they will be able to move the tub on the center of the backyard.

FUTURE PLANS

     Ryan is very practical and that is what I admire most in him. All he wanted is a house that can fit all our children in. He has the same principle as his Dad. Dad can probably afford a big house but if you know how much he makes and how his house looks, you will be surprised. Right Ger? I remember when I was learning how to drive. In the northern part of Dad's house, are big huge expensive houses. Dad was seating right next to me and Ryan in the back seat. As we approached a big house I said, " that house is huge, I wonder how many people live here?". Dad said, "probably two" then Ryan added, "I never see them there Dad", and Dad said, "well they are out working to pay the house. They are working most of the time that they can never enjoy the house". Another professor of ours also said, that if we go to some houses in Olympia Fields ( huge houses where R.Kelly and his family lives. About less than half a mile away from our house) most of those houses only have a couch. We think it was funny but it was probably true. A classmate said, it's for prestige. I told her, whatever their reason is/are, that is surely their life, choice and their judgement.

     Ok back to our future plans. We got a paper from Menards last February. They have list of houses and the estimates of the parts. It doesn't include the labor that is probably over $100,000. I asked Ryan to pick one and I picked mine too. Then I printed, "this is our future house".

    The left one is mine and the right is Ryan. We put it up on our second bedroom where the computer is, so that we will see it everyday. A couple of years or probably next year, we plan to buy a land in Plainfield, IL. Hopefully Ryan's favorite spot is still there. If not atleast somewhere around there. We were searching in the internet for a piece of land and was trying to contact our agent but need to put it on hold for a while because of Dad and now Ryan but we should be actively looking soon. Then sell this house and build our own house. It will probably happen in 5 years. Atleast, we will be paying for the land little by little.

    Pasensya na kayo if nangarap kami . Just few of our plans we hope to achieve soon.

Our Third Year Anniversary

       Today is our anniversary. We ended up not going to our second jobs and decided to sleep over till 11:00 a.m. Around 11:05 I got a call from our operator at Target asking me how I was. So since we were on bed and was too lazy to get up to answer the call, I called her back and assured her that I am ok. Around 11:30, Ryan went to his favorite website, Van Drunen.com to check on cars. He checks that website almost everyday. He just likes going through the inventory of cars that they have. He called me from the other room and asked me to sit right next to him. So I sat right next to him and he showed me pictures of cars. He then asked me which one I like. After going through 5 of them I  pointed a 2004 Ford 2 door hatchback focus. I vowed before never to buy a ford focus because of the recalls they had on my first car. That car was then 2000. So, we sold it and got a Dodge Neon SXT. The neon was ok but we had it checked up one time and went to a different dealership. Different from where we got it from and they ripped us off. Ryan was so mad but I didn't complain. I like the red car.

           Anyways, I didn't know that he felt bad that we are not going to the Philippines. He was approved but my exec did not approve me to leave at all. She won't even give me a straight answer. I keep on asking her but she kept avoiding the topic so I thought she really hated me that much not to approve me. So I decided to just let it be.  Ryan knew how I felt, so to him getting me a new car would make me  happy. So back to the pointing of the car. So I pointed out what I liked. He asked me if I want it and I said yes not knowing of his plan. He asked me to dress up to go to the dealership. I thought he was kidding but I hop on the shower anyway. While I was in the shower he called the guy that we knew at Van Drunen and asked him to make the paper works ready. I was like "huh?" he was not kidding?  and yes he wasn't kidding. We went to Van Drunen and that was basically where we were the rest of the day. We test drove the car and liked it.

Van Drunen in Homewood.

I really hate posing right infront of a car but I am just happy with what Ryan got me for our anniversary. I was too afraid that someone might say something like I am bragging blah..blah.. like Lanie.  But hey, I am not lying, I am just happy and I want to share it to everybody . I got my Ryan a card.

I like the color too. I had a red one before.

       So that was how our day was. Went out for dinner and now getting ready for a very nice evening. This man never cease to make me happy. Kung pwede pa lang siguro ibigay yong bituin sa langit, ginawa na siguro niya.

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       Happy Anniversary Cutie and thank you for your gift. I promise to take care of it like I take care of you. I don't know what would like be LIFE be without you but all I know is I am right here to spend LIFE with you. I love you so very much.

Love, Sweety

An Anniversary Eve slight injury

    What a good place to celebrate our anniversary eve, in a Hospital. Yes, we just got home from South Suburban Hospital after being there from 7:00 pm till 11:00 p.m seating in the emergency room. I am so tired right now but I felt better. Well, I went to work today excited because I know I had a lot of things to be done. Since I chose to have the mid shift (12:00 noon-8:30pm) I was confident that I will be able to finish my pending workload. At around 5:00 pm one of the Exec asked me if I could help him put away fixtures so I readily said yes and followed him in the fixture room. While I was there we agreed on what fixtures that we still need and not. He said he will get rid of the garbage while I look for a spot for those fixtures. As I was walking I saw some debris on the floor so I bend over and reached for it. As I stood up, shelves from the wall fell on me. The biggest one carrying 3 small ones fell on my head. I fell on the floor but was too embarrased to be seen and I got up. Those shelves were not put up properly. I used the walkie to call someone and I though I should be ok. I didn't know that Carrie another TL that I called, also called someone so three of the team members were running towards the fixture room catching their breath. I felt so bad because they look so worried. They asked me what happened and I explained to them what happened. I wasn't bledding since it was the flat surface that hit my head not the edge. Although I had a bruise on my ankle and a bobo on the top of my head, I told them that it wasn't a big deal. So to make the long story short, they had to call the nurse and she asked me if I wanted to be pick-up by an ambulance and I said NO way. I was hoping that they don't need to send me to the hospital but I was wrong. After the shelves fell on me I had a major headache and started feeling dizzy. The nurse was so worried so they sent me to the emergency room.

    At the emergency room it was no fun. There were a lot of patients waiting for their turn but after an hour and a half we were finally called. I saw the doctor for like less than 5 minutes and I was told that I am going to have a CT Scan and luckily it turn out well. I felt like I am dying during the CT Scan. It was very freaky.

My pretty bracelet. When I asked the paramedic about it, he gave me a smile and said " so that you won't be put over the liver transplant ward. "

   I am ok now. I just need some rest and I should be up and running tomorrow. I was  so impressed with how Target took care of me though . Well they better be

Not Fair !

I am supposed to be the happiest person now a days. We will be celebrating our third year anniversary this Wednesday and I love Ryan's gift. Last week, as an anniversary gift , he asked me if I wanted us to go home to the Philippines this May right after our finals. Of course I said yes. I was sooo excited. We did not get the tickets yet because we need to know their approval first before anythings else. We submitted our request off form at work and wanted to take 2 weeks off like we did August of 2004. We were so confident that we will get approved since we have done that before. But today we heard a very sad reply. I was so disapponted. They don't want both of us to leave because we are too important in our respective areas. Ryan was furious. We explained that it is only two weeks. They gave us a week if we still wanted to go. I told my HR that I won't leave the country and spend so much just for a week. It is basically hi and goodbye. I told her that I will fight for this. I haven't seen my family in almost 2 years. They didn't even know because we wanted to surprise them. My HR assured me that they will talk about this during the meeting but who knows when will be their answer. I am afraid that it might be too late and we will end up getting such expensive tickets or end up not going. Whatever it is. If we go or not I am glad with the thoughtfulness of my Ryan. Sorry guys for venting.

Graduations

I just wanted to get this off my chest. My sisters are graduating today in the Philippines. Resty (college) this Friday and Ging-ging (high school) this Saturday. I really felt sad because we are not there to witness their graduations because of our prior commitments here. We have so much going on that it's sooo hard to leave. I just got off chatting with Kim and she is also preparing for her niece's graduation. But most of all I really wanted Ryan to see Resty graduate. He sent her to school 5 years ago even before we got married. That first year he helped her out. That is how much he love me and love my family. It's been 5 years since then and my sister did not fail me and most of all  did not fail Ryan. She will take the board exam soon and prayers are greatly appreciated . We are so proud of them both. Ging-ging will then go to San Jose Recoletos for her Bachelors Degree in Nursing. I know it will be hard but we will get through this. We will never give up. I just want to share some pictures of Ryan and my sisters during our last visit and their bonding to each other.

   

(Pls. excuse our scanner, the picture came out so dark)

Above is my sister Resty and Ryan at Taoist Temple

Below is our youngest sister Ging-ging at home having a Karaoke competition with Ryan.

Notice how my sisters and Ryan react to each other.

      I have been told so many times of how lucky I am to have found Ryan. Not only from family members and friends but also from people at work that knows our situation. They said it is so remarkable that we helped our sisters. That I will seldom find people like that here in the United States. All I can say is not only me, Ryan made a lot of sacrifices to help my sisters. I know you have heard this before but I wanted to say it again, to the extent of transferring from an expensive school and getting a scholarship and work in a laboratory to be able to help out with Resty's school. What else can I say? I must have been a good daughter to deserve a husband like Ryan. The most generous, loving and caring man I've ever known.

        Will post some graduation pictures soon.

* Something wonderful happened yesterday ( (03/25/06)in the Philippines, not my sister's graduation, well it's one of them but something special . Very wonderful and great. It's hard to explain but will keep it that way*.